Frank Lythgoe's Warrington Anglers' Association column 2020

THIS week, in well over three decades of writing this column, we have what I think is our youngest angler to feature here.

I thought that I started my daughter off early at the age of three but Kelly Louise Sloan took her son Noah to Ackers Pit on Thursday for a short introduction to our beloved sport of angling where with a little help from his mummy he landed his first carp.

Oh, I forgot to mention, Noah is only two years of age. Another angler for life.

On Friday, Scott Robert took his dad, Ken, for a session on the River Ribble at Hurst Green where they agreed on a little competition before they set-up on the bankside.

From the off Ken took the lead which as he normally won was not unexpected and after the first hour it was 10 roach and chub against Scott’s two.

The end result however went for once to Scott with 30 roach plus chub and gudgeon against his dad’s mid-20 catch.

Having tried pellets and meat which only attracted eels all were taken using feeder tactics just over halfway across on either red or white maggots. Scott also won the uphill challenge to the car park which is hardly surprising as Ken, like myself, is a septuagenarian.

Matthew Sherratt celebrated his 25th birthday on Monday with an overnight session on the Mount at Buckley with friend Jack Webb and young brother Dominic Bramham.

Matthew was happy with the biggest fish of 17lbs 4ozs 0drs plus 14 others so he was kept busy, finally shipping in his rods for some sleep at 04.30 hours.

They each had the same number of fish with a couple of occasions carp on both rods, all taken on 10mm booster pop-ups fished over a bed of corn and hemp.

Mike Pritchard fished the River Mersey on Saturday, setting up on peg three using his newly rejuvenated waggler rod which he broke a few weeks ago on a previous session.

He started off with maggot but later changed over to caster to catch a better stamp of fish. He ended up with some cracking dace which are showing up in good numbers this season, roach, skimmers, and he lost a big fish at the net. As usual he enjoyed his weekly ‘fishing fix’.

Ian Simcock enjoyed his first river session of the 2020 coarse fishing season on Sunday when he visited the Dee at Worthenbury.

He set up a stick-float with a 16’s hook and double maggot and after 10 minutes landed a small chub. This was followed by six others, best about a pound, then the dace moved in which kept him busy until he ran out of maggots.

Tony Baron had a similar session on Tuesday with chub, a few grayling, and plenty of dace.

The Tom James Open fished on the Mersey on Sunday at Victoria Park and saw winner Geoff Shaw draw hot peg 31 where he fished bolognese and maggot throughout the match to catch quality roach for a weight of 11-1-0.

Match organiser Ade Green fished both pole and feeder tactics for a mixed net of hybrids, dace, plus a bonus 4lb bream that gave him second place with 9-14-0. Twenty-one anglers fished and with a fair few backing weights of 7 and 8lbs-plus it was another close match.

Despite the weather there was a good turnout for our Disabled and Over 60s match this week which was fished on the Bridgewater Canal at Pickerings Bridge. It was a joint first for Roy Brown and George Hollis with both weighing 3-2-0. Roy’s net was made up of roach and perch, and George’s the same but he added a bonus 1.5 lbs skimmer.

This is vitally important to all members that they object to the Outline Planning Application Number 20/00337/OUTEIA which has been submitted to Halton Council for residential development at Daresbury. This includes a closure of Red Brow Lane, Daresbury, which has been used for decades by our members for access by motor vehicle to fish the Bridgewater Canal at Red Brow Underbridge. Save your fishing…object now.

Thanks to Halton Council there will be a weed removal boat employed on the Sankey St Helens Canal either side of Carterhouse Bridge starting on Monday.

There will be a work party on Grey Mist on Wednesday, starting ‘early doors’ until lunchtime. Any members who have a few hours to spare will be more than welcome.

WAA Headquarters at 52, Parker Street remain closed until further notice. Members renewing can simply put their book or request in an envelope with their payment, a stamped addressed envelope, and post it through our HQ door where mail is collected and dealt with most days. If you need any further information please give me a call or email as below.

Please keep those catch reports coming; they are all very much appreciated by fellow members. Email frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or call 01928 716238.

RESULTS:

Tom James Open (Mersey): 1 Geoff Shaw 11-1-0; 2 Ade Green 9-14-0; 3 Mick Schopen 8-14-0; 4 Derek Bibby 8-10-0.

Monday Disabled & Over 60s (Bridgewater Canal, Pickerings Bridge): 1= Roy Brown /George Hollis 3-2-0; 3 Derek Bibby 3-0-8; 4 Jimmy Byrne/Rod Fraser 2-15-6.

FIXTURES:

Monday: Disabled & Over 60s, draw 9.45am, Woodshaw Reservoir (Note £5 all-in, no coins, exact money, no change given).